rieschick



Feb. 28, 1933. R .R|ESCH|CK 1,899,357

PIANO-ACCORDION Filed March 28, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 28, 19343. RR|E5CH|CK 1,899,357

PIANO-ACCORDION Filed March 28, 1932 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r'a ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 28, 1933 PATENT OFFICE REIN HOLD RIESCHICK, OF NEW YORK,N. Y.

PIANO-ACCORDION Application filed March 28, 1932. Serial No. 601,587.

`This invention relates to improvements in piano-accordions, banjos andsimilar musical instruments, and is particularly directed to the casingsor housings supporting the key controlled devices and whereby saiddevices or operative parts are rigidly supported against workingstrains, thus maintaining perfect alignment and constant co-activerelative positions of the moving treble elements of the musicalinstrument, and wherein changing climatic conditions have nodisarranging effect.

A principal object of the invention is to produce improved housings Vforthe treble and bass mechanisms to eliminate distortions in saidmechanisms for the purpose of prolonging the satisfactory service liteof the structural parts of a. musical instrument oil the piano-accordiontype.

inventive features of the invention are seen in the provision ofall-metal housings and a laminated metallic valve panel built into thewalls of the treble housing of the accordion, ccnsistinor of upper andlower fixed metal plates and a tone controlling slidably mounted valveplate operable therebetween.

A further feature of the invention includes the provision of anall-metal housing containing the treble parts of the piano-accordion;said housing including a piano-keyboard portion and a base portion,constituting the sound chamber, and being of one piece or unitaryconstruction and of suitable resonate metal, for increasing the tonalqualities and rigidity of the structure.

The invention furthermore ha's'for an object, the production of apiano-accordion of 40 this character having the functions and advantagesnoted and at the same time enhancing the appearance of the musicalinstrument by reason of an entire metal surface which is susceptible ofmany desirable vornamental finishes, and it will be understood that theinvention is not limited to any particular physical embodiment but maybe expressed in different structures and forms within the scope of theinvention claimed.

A preferred and principal feature of construction is in forming akeyboard back portion at the top with a channel or guideway, and alsowith end flanges, and further, in eX- tending the said keyboard backportion horizontally over the sound chamber to constitute the lowerplate of the said laminated ported valve panel for adding strength tothe built up treble housing.y

In the drawings, similar reference characters are empioyed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, in which: f

Fig. 1 is a partial diagrammatic sectional elevati on, showing thetreble and bass housings or casings for' supporting the active 65 parts(not shown) of a piano-accordion, and an interposed bellows; andfurther, indicating by dotted lines the usual reed-blocks located withinthe said treble housing, but omitting the reed blocks of the bass sideof the instrument as well as other elements of the device.

Fig. 2 is a detailplan view o1E the slidable portion or damper of thesectional ported interposed plate of a laminated ported panel built intothe base portion of the said treble housing.

Fig. 3 is a detail section, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l., showingcertain parts whereby the damper plate is actuated.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig.l, with the ports of the panel in the full-tone position, and looking asthe arrow points, but showing the right end portion of the treble casingonly.

Fig. 5 is a partial horizontal section, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4,showing the ported panel in plan view, with parts broken away todisclose clearances formovements of the damper plate, and the relationof the ports.

Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, showing howcertain sectional parts of the damperv plate are fixe-elly attached tothe upper and lower plates of the ported panel to form a laminatedstructure.

Fig. 7 is a detail section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5, showing howanother section of the interposed plate is secured in place between theupper and lower lamina of the ported panel.

received to normally rest o-n and over their Fig. 8 is adetail sectionalview taken on the line 8 8 of F ig. 4, showing a pivotal mounting for apart of the damper plate actuating means.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 designates generally apiano-accordion of the better type, with the key parts and reedV soundchamber 14surrounded by suitably reinforced base forming walls 15,supporting a unitary keyboard or portion 16, having at its top and ends,integral fianges 17 collectively defining a piano key chamber 13.

A laminated ported panel'19, is built into the base walls 15, of thetreble housing; said panel comprising an upper plate 20, a lower platey21; and a central plate 22, composed of' several iiXeo sections 23 and23a, and a slidable damper-plate section 24, having integral ears 25,from which rounded pins 26 projectfor attachment to a shifting meanshereinafter described. Thedamper-plate 24 has formed therein a series ofoblong ports 27, anda series of rectangular openings 28, somewhat longerthan the fixed damper-plate sections 23, to permit of limited slidingmovements of said damper-plate 24, asbest shown in Fig. 5.

lThe upper and lower plates 20 and 21, and the sections 23 and 23a ofthe central plate 22, are riveted together as at 29, and said plates andsections are provided with registering ports 30; the ports 27 of thedamper-plate 24, being normally in Vregistration with correspondingports 30 of the panel 19, but are out of registration with said portswhen the damper plate is shifted to dampen the tones of thepiano-accordion, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

.The usual reed-blocks, common to this type of instrument, are onlyindicated at 32 by dotted lines in the sound chamber 14, of Fig. 1, andsimilar reed-blocks are, of course, also employed in connection with thebass housing of the piano-accordion, the inner wall 32 thereof havingappropriate ports 33, for tone outlet through the grill or open-workouter wall 34, of said bass housing 12; dust and dirt being excluded bya lining of suitable fabric 35.

The space between the base walls 15, above thelamina-tedV panel 19, maybe termed a valve chamber 36, see Fig. 1, in which the velvets or valvesof the instrument may be respective ports of the ported panel, and

piano-keys rockable on the center 37, (Fig. 1) operate the valves orvelvets as is well known; the keys and s'upported velvets and the bassbuttons and connections being omitted, as they form no part of thisinvention.

A cover for the valve or velvet chamber 36, isy shown as a grill oropen-work plate 38,- which has a fabric lining 39, to exclude dust fromsaid valve chamber, but permitting full exodus of musical tonestherefrom.

The means for shifting the damper-plate 24 longitudinally between thefixed plates and the sections of the laminated panel plate 19, toregulate the tones of the piano-accordion, may comprise an outermanually actuated slide or shift bar 40, formed with gripping ribs 41,mounted to operate on the top flange 1'? of the piano-key chamber, andwhich is connected by screws 42 or the like, passing through slots 43,(Fig. 3) in the said flange 17, to and through an inner slide bar 44,which in turn is provided with thickened portions 45, operating in otherslots 46 in said flange 1?, for limiting the movements of the shift bar;the thickened portions are provided with l slots 47, to freely receivethe upper ends 48, of rock-levers 49, which as in Figs. 1,4 and 8,extend throu `h bridge plates 50, secured to the back wal or chamber 18.

The rock-levers 49are each pivoted as at 51 to the respective bridgeplates 50, and are extended downwardly and slotted as at 52 to receivetheir respective projecting pins 26, on the ears 25 of the damper-plate24.

rlhus it will be apparent that longitudinal movement Vof the top orshift bar 40, will rock the levers 49 on the' pivots 51, and

plate 16, ofthe piano-key through the described slot and pin connectionswith the ears 25 and of the damper-plate 24, the saine may belongitudinally actuated to control the tonal qualities of thepianoaccordion, as will be readily understood.

rlhe laminated ported panel 19, is built into the walls 15, of the saidbase portion of the il" treble housing by providing an overhangingshoulder 15a in said walls, between which and a continuous flange 52,the said panel is rigidly held, the said overhanging shoulder a 15a iscontinued along the inner faces of the 3' i front and end walls of saidbase portion.

The all-metal treble and bass housings of the piano-accordion may bereinforced whereever desired to produce a sturdy, rigid, resonatestructure for supporting the contained t operable parts against warpageor distortion, to maintain relativeuniform actions and results in amusical instrument mechanism.

An important feature of reinforcing the base portion 9, ofthe instrumentis the pro- 7 Another important feature, for strength and durability, isthe forming of the back plate portion 16 integrally with the lower plateor lamina 2l of the ported panel, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings.

I claim:

l. In a piano-accordion structure, an allmetal casing for supporting andhousing the elements operatively active for playing the treble notes ofthe accordion; an all-metal casing for supporting and housing theelements operatively active for playing the bass notes of the accordionand a bellows coordinating with the said treble and bass elements, andconnecting said housings for the purpose of generating air pressures andvacuums for operating the said elements to produce musical tones; saidall-metal housings providing security against distortion of the workingelements supported thereby; and a laminated ported metal panel builtinto the walls of the housing supporting the treble elements of theaccordion,

2. In a piano-accordion structure, an allmetal casing for supporting andhousing the elements operatively active for playing the treble notes ofthe accordion; an all-metal casing fer supporting and housing theelements operatively active for playing the bass notes of the accordionand a bellows (fo-ordinating with the said treble and bass elements, andconnecting said housings for the purpose of generating air pressures andvacuums for operating the said elements to produce musical tones; saidell-metal housings providing security against distortion of the workinelements supported thereby; and a laminate ported metal panel built intothe walls of the housing supporting the treble elements of theaccordion, consisting of upper and lower fixed ported metal plates andan interposed movable ported metal plate.

3. In a piano-accordion structure. an allmetal casing for supporting andhousing the elements operatively active for playing the treble notes ofthe accordion; an all-metal casing for supporting and housing theelements operatively active for playing the bass notes of the accordionand a bellows coordinating with the said treble and bass elements, andconnecting said housings for the purpose of generating air pressures andvacuums for operating the said elements to produce musical tones; saidall-metal housings providing security against distortion of the workingelements supported thereby; and a laminated ported metal panel builtinto the walls of the housing supporting the treble elements of theaccordion, consisting of upper and lower lixed ported metal plates andan interposed movable ported metal plate; the plates of the built-inpanel having normally registering ports and the movements of theinterposed ported plate controlling the tonal qualities of theaccordion.

4. In a piano-accordion structure, an allmetal casing for supporting andhousing the elements operatively active for playing the treble notes ofthe accordion; an all-metal casing for supporting and housing theelements operatively active for playing the bass notes of the accordionand a bellows co-ordinating with the said treble and bass elements, andconnecting said housings for the purpose of generating air pressures andvacuums for op-v erating the said elements to produce musical tones;said al1-metal housings providing security against distortion of theworking elements supported thereby; and a laminated ported panel builtinto the walls of the housing supporting the treble elements of theaccordion, consisting of upper and lower fixed ported metal plates andan interposed movable ported metal plate; the plates of the built-inpanel having normally registering ports and the movements of theinterposed ported plate controlling the tonal qualities of theaccordion, said interposed ported plate being manually controlled fromthe exterior of said accordion.

5. In combination; in a piano-accordion, a casing part constructedentirely of reinforced resonate metal for supporting the treble parts; acasing part constructedentirely of reinforced resonate metal forsupporting the bass parts; a bellows connecting said casing parts; alaminated ported panel built into the walls of the treble casing partand means for slidably operating a lamina of said ported panel for thepurpose set forth.

6. In combination; in a piano-accordion, a casing part constructedentirely of reinforced resonate metal for supporting the treble parts; acasing part constructed en tirely of reinforced resonate metal forsupporting the bass parts; a bellows connecting said casing parts; alaminated ported panel built into the walls of the treble casing partand means for slidably operating a lamina of said ported panel for thepurpose set forth. said means comprising pivotally connected rock barsoperable eXteriorly of said treble parts supporting casing.

7. A piano-accordion embodying all-metal treble and bass framestructures and an attached bellows; the treble frame structure having athree plate ported panel of metal, including upper and lower fixedYported plates and a central sectional ported plate; sections thereofbeing riveted or otherwise secured to the upper and lower plates of saidpanel; another section of said central plate being slidable between saidupper and lower plates for regulating the tone volumes; and meanspivotally connected to the slidable plate for controlling its movementsfrom without the treble frame structure.

8. A piano-accordion embodying all-metal treble and bass framestructures and an attached bellows; the treble frame structure 'having athree platevported panel of metal,

including upper .and lower lined ported plates and a central sectionalported plate; sections thereof being riveted or. otherwise secured Vtothe upper and lower plates of said panel; another section of saidcentral plate being' slidable between said upper and lower plates forregulating the tone velumes;

and means pivetally connected to the slidy able plate for controllingits Ymovements from lwithout the treble frame structure; the ports ofsaid slidable plate being normally in registration with the ports of thesaid upper and lower plates of the ported panelY toperniit full tones toescape therethrough, while movement of the slidable platefto its eXtremeopposite position acts to reduce the ton-ev volume emanating' from theports of said panel for damping effects.

9. A piano-accordion having; an all-metal Y frame for supporting thetreble keys thereof; said frame embodying` a reinforced body portion; anall-metal key-board integral with said body portion; a panel built intothe walls Vof said body portion; said panel comprising,- upper and lowerfixed plates having .registering ports, and an interposed sectionalplate having' ports normally registering with the ports of the otherplates; Vsections of the interposed plateA being iXedly secured; and oneother section being slidable and being; `formed with integral ears eachformed with a projecting pin; in combination with manually operablemeans connected with said pins, for sliding` the free section of theinterposed plate for damping the tones of the said piano-accordion.

10. In combination; an all-metal casing for supportingl treble parts ofa piano-accordion, said easing embodying abase portion and a key-boardportion formed integrally one with the other; a laminated allmetalported panel built into the walls of said base portion, a lamina of saidpanel being relatively slidable; an all metal easing for supportingthebass parts of said pianoaccordion; a bellows connecting' the saideasings; and means for .actuating the slidable lamina of saidportedpanel for damping the tones of said piano-accordion.

Vll. ln a piano-accordion; all metal treble and bass housings and abellows connected therewith; said treble housing embodying a baseportion and a keyboard portion; a laminated ported panel built into saidbase portion; said keyboard portion having` bent integral portionsrelatively forming): a guide flange at its top, end ilanges, and aplate; termine' the lower lamina of said laminated ported panel.

Signed at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, this22nd day ot' Marchv` A. D. 1932.

' REINHOLD RESCHICK.

